'Til Monday: Garage Sale Weekend

I've spent this week clearing out closets, dressers and cupboards for tomorrow's garage sale.  Every once in while I get the urge to purge.  This Saturday, three households (including ours) will be peddling unwanted wares destined to become somebody else's treasures.  If you live in the East Bay and love a good yard sale, email me at debra@cocoonhome.com for all the details.  Wish us luck!

Out And About: Big Sur Bakery

While camping in Big Sur over the weekend, we rolled out of our tent in the early hours of the morning to head for the Big Sur Bakery.  I've always been intrigued by the garden that surrounds it and during this trip we wanted to make sure we finally dropped in.   Thank God we did, since their donuts and pastries are out of this world delicious.  I ordered a blueberry strudel that required a fork, the kids went bonkers over their Cop Donuts (maple glazed with a donut hole on top) and Alex's savory ham & cheese croissant was perfectly balanced.  All this yumminess is set in an amazing succulent garden that's  backdropped by the Santa Lucia mountain range.  Take a look at a few images from this legendary morning:

To read on how the bakery got started click here and to check out the Big Sur Bakery cookbook click here.

'Till Monday: Five Friday Faves

Images:  1./2./3./4./5.

Learning To Relax***Dolce Far Niente

With 3 kids and their schedules, our schedules, work, household chores, social and  personal obligations, there seems to be NO down time anymore.  Whenever a free moment appears, I find myself filling it with a yoga class, garden work, walking the dog or some type of screen time.  I see this in my husband, too.  We never sit for a moment and do absolutely nothing.  Lately, however,  my body has been practically forcing itself to try it, as if it's applying its own internal brakes.  At times, I feel both mentally and physically fatigued, and I'm learning to recognize it and let go of things that "have" to be done.  I'm hopeful that my current need for quiet moments will also affect Alex and our children.  It's OK to do nothing.  Perhaps even sweet...

Do you find it difficult to slow down and relax?  I'd love to hear how others find the time, or even the will to let go and enjoy a state of true relaxation.

Image via Pinterest 

Master Bedroom Update: Before And After

Recently, Alex and the kids surprised me with the Society pillowcases I've been obsessing over.  Now that the bed is fully dressed again, it became clear why.  Their color and pattern perfectly balance the texture and tone of the brick wall behind our bed.  Mixing high and low ends of the spectrum, sheets from Ikea and a linen duvet from Coyuchi completed the new look.  I also replaced the chrome based bedside lamps with oversized brass and green ones I found at a consignment shop.   Take a look at the before and after bedding and the 'new' light fixtures and let me know what you think.  I'm still on the fence about the lamps and I badly need your input..